Motions heard in Maidu tribal dispute case

OROVILLE &GT;&GT; More than 10 defendants and lawyers met in Butte County Superior Court on Friday morning to hear the courts rulings in their motions requesting dismissals in their involvement in a Maidu tribal dispute case.

The case includes 22 active defendants accused of allegedly being involved in the takeover and vandalism at the offices of Berry Creek Rancheria near Gold Country Casino on May 16, 2013. On Friday, five of the defendants were granted motions and had their cases dismissed.

Prosecuting supervising district attorney Kurt Worley said those with cases dismissed were those who were not inside the building at "any point" during the alleged vandalism. He said the court found that the prosecution didn't have enough evidence to say that those who were dismissed had intended for a crime to take place at the time of their actions. For instance, four of those dismissed were drivers in the incident and one held a key to the premises.

After the hearing, the court agreed to give the lawyers an opportunity to meet and discuss proceedings with their clients, and they agreed to adjourn to Aug. 22 to discuss trial procedures or if any defendants want to dis-plead.

According to an Enterprise-Record report on May 14, each of the defendants faces a charge of felony vandalism causing damage over $400, but three face additional allegations.

The standoff was reportedly over a disenrollment vote for four individuals. During the event, 19 people locked and barricaded themselves inside the Tyme Maidu Tribal Offices. The prosecution alleged that the other defendants provided support to the group.

After the event, investigators found lumber, wire, tarps and straps drilled into walls, windows and doors through the tribal office's two buildings. Officials also found baseball bats, slingshots, bear pepper spray and sleeping bags.

Butte County Sheriff's deputies and tribal officials estimated the standoff caused more than $20,000 in damage.

Investigators also reportedly found absentee ballots from the disenrollment process removed from ballot boxes and shredded.